Southeastern California Conference

22 Souls Baptized Through Full Circle Program at Arden Hills

Arden Hills church hosted the Full Circle program from last October through April, which led to 22 souls deciding to be baptized into the church.

Directed by Eric Isaia, Southeastern California Conference (SECC) literature ministries director, Full Circle aims to equip church members and ministries with new ways to spread the gospel.

The Literature Ministries Department of SECC has been running Full Circle for the last 10 years. When churches choose to participate, four coordinators partner with members over six months to brainstorm methods to expand their ministry into the local community and win souls for Christ. The program culminates in a three-week Bible prophecy seminar called Revelation Revealed that seeks to share different facets of God's love.

The Full Circle program hosted at Arden Hills church was the first since the COVID-19 pandemic halted operations.

“Full Circle helped our small church grow and become more focused on Jesus and serving other people,” said Jeffrey Harper, pastor of Arden Hills church. “I really appreciate the emphasis on preservation. The Full Circle team really concentrated on helping us integrate new people and families into our church family.” Throughout the Full Circle program, Arden Hills held several programs designed to build relationships with surrounding community members. More than 20 community members attended a cooking class geared toward nutrition and healthy eating.

One community member attended each night of the Revelation Revealed seminar virtually, because the Adventist church explained God’s love and the Bible in a way she could understand. “She told me that she was so thankful for a church in the community that cared about her and her family,” shared Harper. “We now study the Bible with her weekly and she also attends church. It was a blessing to see her transition from watching online to coming in person, and she is getting baptized in July!”

For Pastor Harper, the best part is watching Jesus work in people's lives, both in the Arden Hills community and the church. Even members who normally were not involved participated in the various ministries and programs during Full Circle.

“Full Circle is a great program,” said Harper. “But any church can do the same thing! Get a group of people together at your church and think about ways to share the Bible and God's love with people in your community.”

Full Circle is happening at two more churches in the SECC this fall.

Interested in bringing Full Circle to your church and local community? Reach out to Eric Isaia at eric.isaia@ seccsda.org. Francis, Full Circle coordinator, involves a young church member at a free car wash.

____________________ By Danni Thaw

Church members pray with a community member.

LEFT: The Soli family (from left to right): Marley, Gideon, Linda, Judah, Meshach, Zion, and Isaac. RIGHT: Soli preaches at an ordination.

Represent the Two Percent: Soli Appointed as Associate Youth Director

In March, Southeastern California Conference (SECC) welcomed Meshach Soli as the new associate youth director for club ministries. Soli has been working with youth and young adults since his conversion. He became his church’s youth leader one week after his baptism. “I’ve always had a passion and a heart for youth and young adults, so that was my sweet spot in what I was passionate about,” said Soli.

While Soli has ministered to youth and young adults from all walks of life, he has a special place in his heart for Pacific Islander and indigenous youth. In 2017, Soli was asked to present a seminar on why ethnic minorities, in general, and Pacific Islanders, specifically, were leaving the church at an alarming rate in the North American Division (NAD). As he listened to the other presentations, he learned that natives and others, the group that includes Pacific Islanders, were just two percent of the NAD membership. He felt an awesome responsibility to share their stories and allow their voices to be heard.

Ever since that NAD event, Soli started a hashtag, #TheTwoPercent, and whenever he got the chance to participate in Pacific Islander events, he would share the story and remind them that God does big things with small beginnings. Soon Soli was approached about making the Two Percent more than a hashtag, and it has since become an intentional ministry and platform to highlight and develop the talents, leadership, and giftedness of Pacific Islander and indigenous youth and young adults.

Soli has served as the ministry coordinator of the conference’s Samoan groups. He also helped with the planting of XCell church and served as an associate pastor at Beaumont church. Most recently, he was the pastor of the South Bay church in San Diego. Throughout his ministry, club ministries have always been close to his heart. He often started clubs in churches where they had none, and revitalized clubs that were fledgling.

In reflecting on his excitement about Soli joining the youth ministries team, Youth Director Aren Rennacker said, “He brings a heart for young people and a spirit of collaboration that has already impacted our conference. I know Pastor Meshach will continue to impact the young people and the ministry leaders of our conference in tremendous ways.”

Soli is grateful to follow his two predecessors, Rudy Carrillo and Patty Marruffo, who helped to shape his ministry. “To follow these two leaders who poured into me, I feel like I have a little bit of both of their leadership and blessings to see where God is leading us now,” said Soli.

With all the success that he has experienced, he still has a humble spirit. “Ministry was fine before I got here and ministry is going to be just as fine when I’m gone. I have always held onto success loosely because I realize that it isn’t about me.”

____________________ By Andrea King

Willing: Three Pastors’ Stories

“One of the joys I have as a pastor is seeing kids growing up at church and getting them involved in different ministries.”

RIGHT: Ministerial director Jon Cicarelli gives remarks to Joo and his wife, Ayong Han. OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: Ebora gives a response at his ordination. OPPOSITE PAGE BOTTOM: Pastors lay hands on Ostrovsky as he is ordained.

Sam Joo

Orange Central Korean Church

As a pastor’s kid, Sam Joo said he “just always knew” pastoral ministry was what he wanted to do. When he was in high school, his youth pastor offered him the opportunity to teach the youth group at church, and it was a turning point in his life.

“I was scared to get up in front of my friends,” Joo recalled. “But it gave me an idea of what being a leader looks like.”

Today, Joo is assistant pastor at the Orange Central Korean Church in Placentia, where he’s been serving for nine years and was ordained in March. And like his youth pastor did for him, Joo makes it a point to find ways to include the youth in church leadership.

“One of the joys I have as a pastor is seeing kids growing up at church and getting them involved in different ministries,” he explained. He views communication and relationship as the top factors keeping young people in the church, and he does what he can to mentor and guide them.

“I start by building a relationship with them as a reliable, trustworthy person,” he said. “From there, I encourage them to be involved—from leading Pathfinders to being part of a praise team. Then I let them do things with me and explore until they feel comfortable doing it on their own.”

Joo feels inreach, such as his work with young people, and outreach go hand in hand. He envisions the church shaping their community and becoming an influential support for the city. Because the purpose of everything they do, Joo added, is “to expand the kingdom of God and invite others to join us.”

Melvin Ebora

Inland Empire Filipino Church

While attending college in the Philippines, Melvin Ebora joined the Young Ministers Club, a group of students who visited different local churches every week to meet and minister to the members. The more churches he visited, the stronger Ebora felt God leading him to full-time ministry.

“That’s how it all started,” Ebora said.

When he moved to Redlands, he quickly became involved at church, encouraging the young people to do what he did as a student—visit local churches. Because music is highly valued in their church, they started a youth choir and began singing at different churches and nursing homes.

“We only have about 400 members, but we have six or seven singing groups in our church,” Ebora said. “I believe music keeps us moving forward—sharing a passion and getting everyone involved.”

Because of this passion, music played a large role in Ebora’s recent ordination, which he considers more than an affirmation of his calling but also a celebration of his salvation.

“The reason God called me to ministry was not for me to save the souls of others, but to save my own,” he shared. “Had I not become a pastor, I probably would not be in the church. I’m not a special person; God simply wanted me to be close to Him, and this was how He made that happen. I just followed His lead.”

Ivan Ostrovsky

Fallbrook Church

Ivan Ostrovsky comes from a long line of pastors: His great-grandfather, grandfather, father, and oldest brother all entered the ministry. But Ostrovsky didn’t think that role was meant for him.

“I thought as a pastor I’d always have to wear a suit and know everything,” he said with a laugh. “That didn’t sound fun.”

So he enrolled in college as a nursing major. God simply followed him.

“I had just presented an impassioned speech in English class on my favorite topic, soccer, when I heard a whisper in my ear,” Ostrovsky remembered. The voice asked, “When are you going to talk about me like that?”

Recognizing it as the voice of the Holy Spirit, Ostrovsky was convicted of his true calling and switched to a theology major. Today, he’s the youth pastor at Fallbrook church, where he has served for four years and was ordained this spring.

“I love the young people,” Ostrovsky said. “When I empower them to lead, they not only have fun and learn more about Jesus, but they also build relationships with each other and the church and see they’re not just needed, they’re wanted here.”

Ostrovsky knows that when young people have something to look forward to, they keep showing up and they stay excited. So he involves them in activities beyond Sabbath, coordinating various events throughout the week. Recently he and three young people hiked Half Dome in Yosemite.

“I just do things I love and take them with me,” Ostrovsky said.

After accepting God’s call to ministry, Ostrovsky said he felt like he’d finally stopped running and stepped into his true purpose.

“God chose me,” he said. “I let Him lead, He brought me here, and I’m willing to keep going.”

____________________ By Becky St. Clair